THELTON WAYNE MCCORCLE
Thelton Wayne McCorcle was born on May 19, 1933, in Colorado City, Texas, to Finnis McCorcle and Julia Robison. After graduating from Odessa High School (TX) he was accepted into the U.S. Marine Corp and served in the Korean War. His service in the Marines and US Army earned him the GI Bill which afforded him two bachelors and ultimately the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Texas A&M.
After leaving active duty with the Army he found a career with USDA where he served in Puerto Rico, Miami and Alabama.
He was the Export Veterinarian at the International Airport in Miami for 12 years while attending Army Reserves. The completion of the General Staff College allowed him to be promoted to Colonel. Being transferred to Auburn with USDA was a welcome change from the hectic Miami life.
While being stationed in Germany he met his wife of 47 years, Elisabeth.
He left Terra Firma, as he would say, on April 4, 2022.
He is survived by his wife Elisabeth, 4 children, and 8 grandchildren. He was grateful for the care of Compassus and he appreciated the expertise of Dr. Bantwal Baliga, Dr. Rhodes, Dr. Holmes, and Dr. Brian Wood.
Family members remember him as diligent, generous, relaxed, smoking his pipe and drawing pictures. It could be said, what he enjoyed most out of life was to make people laugh.
His best friend Richard McCormick said, “McCorcle cannot be corrupted”.
Our loss is immense.
A memorial service was held on Friday, April 8 at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home. Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home and Crematory directed.
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TOMMY HUGH JAMES
Tommy Hugh James went to be with his Lord on April 4, 2022. He was 87 years old. Tommy was born on May 23, 1934, to Eratus Fylie and Minnie Elizabeth James. He was the last of 9 children. He grew up in Opelika and graduated from Opelika High School. He retired from West Point Pepperrell and then worked for Twiss Associate, Inc. He loved his family and especially enjoyed his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He always had a smile, a hug, and a cute saying for you.
Tommy is survived by his two sons, Mickey (Teresa) James of Waverly and Billy James of Valley, his wife Fannie James of Salem and her children David (Marlene) Linthicum and Tracy (Darryl) Graham. Tommy is survived by grandchildren Laura (Austin) Ehrhart, Tommy (Amber) James, Haley (Chase) Sparks, Michael (Amanda) James, Scotty James, and Jon (Catherine) James and James Graham. Tommy was blessed with 13 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. He is preceded in death by his mother and father and six brothers and 2 sisters.
Visitation was held on Wednesday, April 6, at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home in Opelika. Funeral services were held on April 7 at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home with burial following in the Fairfax Cemetery in Valley, Alabama.
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HELEN TILSON FLETCHER
Helen Tilson Fletcher was born in Durham, North Carolina, on March 27, 1931, and died on April 4, 2022, in Dadeville, Alabama, at the age of 91. She is survived by her daughters Anne Peery Fletcher Grizzle (David) and Laura Tucker Fletcher Henry (Raymond); seven grandchildren: Benjamin David Grizzle (Heather), Joshua Peter Fletcher Grizzle (Jane), Sara Beth Henry Collins (Matt), Valerie Anne Henry Sirenko (Maxim), Andrew Tilson Grizzle (Katy), Laura Christiana Brokaw, Nathan Forest Brokaw; and nine great-grandchildren. Helen was the daughter of Warren Earl (“Tex”) Tilson and Virginia Peery Tilson and the sister of James Edward Tilson. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Forest, brother Jim and daughter Beth Powell Fletcher Brokaw (David).
Helen graduated from Lexington High School and Mary Baldwin College, majoring in history. She was married on Aug. 11, 1951, to Forest Fletcher, Jr. in Lexington, Virginia. For a year or two, she taught high school Spanish. Helen and Forest were the parents of three daughters: Laura Tucker, Anne Peery and Beth Powell. Helen and Forest lived in Fishersville, then Waynesboro, and finally Staunton, Virginia. Helen was devoted to her family and was a great cook, accomplished seamstress and intrepid tent camper. She was an avid reader, bird watcher, and bridge club member and enjoyed painting landscapes from nature in oil on canvas. Helen and Forest were faithful members of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Staunton from 1965 until their deaths in 2010 (Forest) and 2022 (Helen). Forest is interred in the church columbarium, and Helen will join him there.
A memorial service for Helen was held on Monday, April 11, at 10 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Auburn. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Staunton, Virginia, Boys’ Home of Virginia or a charity of your choice.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home directed.
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LARRY KENNETH HOWARD, SR.
Larry Kenneth Howard, Sr. of Alexander City, Alabama was born in Lee County, Alabama on Oct. 18, 1950, and passed away at his home surrounded by family on April 5, 2022. He was 71 years old.
He attended Ridge Road Baptist Church.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Bessie Howard; brothers, Louis Howard, and Phillip Howard.
He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Dale Howard; children, Karen Hoffman (Jonathan) Larry Howard, Jr. (Jessica) Jason Smith (Anita), Maykie Cantrell (Chris); nine grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren; sisters, Shirley Miller, Linda Miller, and Teressa Fewell, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other family members.
Memorial service will be held at Ridge Road Baptist Church Saturday, April 30, 2022 at 2 p.m. with Pastor Robert E. Gates and Pastor Darrell Shelton officiating.
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ANNELIESE “ANN” EMMA TREGO
Anneliese “Ann” Emma Trego was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She left this world suddenly on April 5, 2022, at the age of 92.
Ann was born to Alfred and Anne Marie O’Brien on Jan. 1, 1930, in Berlin, Germany.
She overcame the challenges of growing up during World War II and went on to meet her husband Cooper Dague Trego, while he was stationed overseas. They settled in the United States in 1953.
After studying hard Ann passed her citizenship test with flying colors, having only one error. Ann Trego became a proud citizen of the United States of America on June 10, 1958.
Ann will be remembered fondly by her family as an especially generous and caring woman who would give you the shirt off her back if needed. She always wanted to write a book about her life growing up during the war and had many compelling stories that she shared with her family and friends. She was quite the “character” with her sense of humor and candid comments.
Ann is preceded in death by Cooper Dague Trego her husband of 43 years and Peter “Pete” John Trego her son.
She is survived by her daughter Flora Ann Trego. James Harmon Blankenship Jr., former son in law. Many grandchildren Moss Hays, Kelly (Theresa) Hays, Tia Trego, Jaime (Eric) Ennis, Derek (Jennifer) Blankenship. Great grandchildren Cooper Ennis, MacKenzie King and one on the way. Sister Inge Dessell Whitmore. Daughter in law Sue Vail Trego.
Her graveside ceremony was conducted by Jeffcoat Trant Funeral Home at the Garden Hills Cemetery on Sunday, April 10 at 3 p.m.